Fundamentals of Horticulture

Soil management

Soil Management/Floor Management

• Soil management aims at maintaining soil in good condition, or improving the condition if necessary.
• This includes protection from direct sunlight and from the impact of rainfall and wind erosion.
• In annual crops like vegetables and flowers which do not leave vacant space.
• There is no such problem except that one has to replenish nutrients harvested by crops and leached out but in tree crops, wherein, it is usually several years after planting before a tree which form such an extensive canopy that it can provide adequate protection to the soil, the vacant space needs to be productively utilized and protected through different management practices like intercropping, cover cropping, cultivation, sod culture, mulching, rotation, high density planting..

Objectives of Soil Management

1. To create favourable conditions for moisture supply and proper drainage.
2. To maintain high fertility level and replenishment against losses.
3. To provide proper soil conditions for gaseous exchange and microbial activities through addition of organic matter.
4. To check or reduce soil erosion.
5. To ensure supply of nutrients for growth and development of plants.
6. To utilize vacant land for additional income because such a loss is inconceivable for small holders.
7. To reduce the cost of cultivation with high economic returns.
8. To suppress weed population.

Definitions of terms to be used in management of soil
Intercrop: Any crop other than main crop grown between the rows of perennial tree crops is known as intercrop and the cultivation there of is intercropping.
Green Manure Crop: The crop other than main crop grown for the purpose of enriching the soil for organic matter is called green manure crop.
Cover Crop: The crop grown to provide a cover to soil to protect it from erosion. It may be green manure crop also.